Evolution Characteristics of Extreme Precipitation in Northern China: A Case Study of Chaohu Lake Basin

Authors

  • Ye Zhang State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing Jiangsu, 210029, China Author
  • Leizhi Wang State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing Jiangsu, 210029, China Author
  • Dan Tian China Three Gorges Corporation, Wuhan Hubei, 430014, China Author
  • Wei ZHU Hunan Provincial Water Conservancy and Hydropower Survey and Design Institute, Changsha Hunan, 410007, China Author
  • Lei Wu School of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agriculture University, Hefei Anhui, 230036 China Author
  • Pengxin Deng Bureau of Hydrology, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan Hubei, 430010, China Author
  • Jianwen Hu State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing Jiangsu, 210029, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70917/jcc-2026-019

Keywords:

Chaohu Lake Basin, extreme precipitation, mutation diagnosis, probability distribution

Abstract

Under the background of global climate change, extreme precipitation events are becoming more frequent in the monsoon region of northern China. The Chaohu Lake Basin, as a typical transitional zone in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, has a precipitation variability that is simultaneously influenced by the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere and the expansion of the Hefei metropolitan area. Based on daily precipitation data from 15 meteorological stations, this study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of extreme precipitation in the basin from 1961 to 2019 by constructing a "Trend-Mutation-Probability (TMP)" three-dimensional analysis framework. Results show: 1) The annual average precipitation in the Chaohu Lake Basin shows a significant upward trend (2.4 mm/yr, p < 0.05), with a more significant increase at the edge stations (such as station 15 reaching 5.1 mm/yr); 2) The year of the precipitation mutation point is 1979 (H = 0.52), and after the mutation, the 90th percentile (P=0.9) precipitation increases by 154.6 mm; 3) The PRCPTOT index shows the most significant growth (2.4 mm/yr), and the frequency of extreme events significantly increases. This study not only presents the novel TMP diagnostic framework for broader application but also delivers specific, actionable insights for updating flood risk management policies and infrastructure design standards in the densely populated Yangtze River Delta, thereby strengthening the region's climate resilience.

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Published

2026-08-06

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How to Cite

Evolution Characteristics of Extreme Precipitation in Northern China: A Case Study of Chaohu Lake Basin. (2026). Journal of Climate Change, 12(2), 12. https://doi.org/10.70917/jcc-2026-019